Kissing The Altar At The Beginning Of Mass Has A Fascinating Origin
In addition to a profound bow to the altar by the Priest, Deacon, and other ministers upon arriving in the sanctuary, the Priest and Deacon also kiss the altar itself (GI 49).
Many of us may be surprised (or shocked!) to learn that this ancient custom was borrowed from pagan rituals. People would honor the temple by kissing the doorway. Images of pagan gods were also greeted with a kiss or thrown a kiss from a distance (this must be deep in our human spirit since we still do this today--just watch children throw people kisses!). The altar was also greeted with a kiss.
Interestingly, the family table was often similarly honored at the mealtime with a kiss. Although we may feel odd doing this today, what a wonderful family custom to introduce in our homes, for our family table is similar to the Church’s Lord’s Table. Just as the larger Church community gathers to eat at the Lord’s Table, so our families gather in unity around their dinner tables. An ancient spirituality, which is slowly being renewed today, speaks of the family as a small church. What we do in Church takes place in our homes – eating together, caring for the sick, forgiving one another, serving each other, sharing our gifts (chores), teaching each other right from wrong. The Church is as strong as are our families.
When the pagan religions died out in Rome, the Church introduced into our worship this custom of greeting holy places with a kiss. By the end of the 4th century, kissing the altar was a typical practice in Christianity. This occurred both in the Roman Liturgy and in the Byzantine Liturgies of the Eastern Church. This was a custom that the people who had converted from paganism could easily understand as a sign of reverence. Therefore, the Church simply “baptized” this custom and incorporated it into our liturgy. Often the Church takes the best from culture and society and adapts it to our liturgy.
The Priest’s and Deacon’s kisses are first of all for the altar, the Lord’s Table. As the Church further reflected on this custom, kissing the altar came to express our reverence for the altar as a symbol of Christ when altars were built of stone. The reference is to Christ, our Cornerstone, upon whom our faith is built. Kissing the Lord’s Table then came to be expanded as a gesture of love for the Lord himself.
Another elaboration upon kissing the altar was made when martyrs’ relics were embedded in the altar. Kissing the altar then came to be understood also as a greeting of the martyr; and through the martyr, a greeting for the Church triumphant in heaven. The one kissing of the altar at the beginning of Mass was changed around 1240 A.D. to include a kissing of the altar upon leaving and once during the Canon (now known as Eucharistic Prayer). When the Rite for Mass changed following the Council of Trent (1545-1563) every time the priest turned to greet the people, he would first greet the altar as a sign that his greeting came from the Lord Jesus. Today in the 2011 revised Roman Liturgy, the Priest and Deacon kiss the altar at the beginning and ending of the Mass. Simply put, this kiss honors the place where the holy mystery of the Body and Blood of Christ will take place.
Sometimes we are so busy singing that we do not notice this gesture of reverence, which is why attention is being called to it.
